Table



Nov. fl, l93 p R0551 2,061,717

TABLE Filed April 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 zmmmi 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 24,' 1936. P 9551 TABLE Filed April 13, 1934 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE TABLE Pietro Antonio Rossi, Youngstown, Ohio Application April 13, 1934, Serial No. 720,458 8 Claims. (01. 311-67) The object of this invention is to provide a table which may be readily adjusted to accommodate one or more diners and also may be adapted for use in performing culinary operations. It is also an object of the invention to provide a table top which may be slidably and pivotally mounted upon the frame so that it may be disposed either transverselyor longitudinally of the frame, according to the purpose which it is to serve at the moment. Other objects of the invention will appear incidentally in the course of the following description and the inventionv resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the claims following the description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figuresl and 2 are perspective views of a table embodying the present invention and showing different positions of the table top.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section with the table top in the position shown in Figure 2, the view being taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section with the top in the position shown in Figure l, the View being taken along the line l4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of Figure 4 taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and showing the pivotal and slidable mounting of the table top.

Figure 6 is a perspective View showing the construction of the track and also the detent for locking the table topin a set position.

Figure 7 is a bottom, plan view of the table top, the table cloth attachmentbeing omitted.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the roller which carries the table cloth.

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a frame I consisting of side and end rails and supporting legs 2 secured to the frame at the corners of the same, the frame being preferably oblong in form. The top of the frame is openand midway the ends thereof is a transverse partition 3 which is preferably tapered upwardly, as shown most clearly in Figure 3. Adjacent each end rail there is an inner inclined wall 4 which forms, with the partition 3, bins 5 and 6 which may serve various purposes. There are also provided inner side walls I which extend the full length of the frame and converge downwardly, as shown clearly in Figure 4, so that the bottoms of the bins 5 and 6 will be of less area than the tops of the same. A bottom plate 8 is secured to the lower edges of the side and end rails and this plate has an opening registering with the a bottom of the bin 5, as shown in Figures 3 and. 4,

a box 9 being provided on the underside of the bottom plate around the opening and provided near its top with a cleat Ill upon which a screen ll rests. The cleat l0 and the opening in the bottom plate 8 are circular and the screen ll fits closely within the circular opening so that it may rotate therein while resting upon the cleat. To manipulate the screen or sieve, a handle 12 is secured thereto and projects forwardly therefrom below the bottom of the frame and passes through a slot IS in the front side of the box to be connected to the screen. By oscillating the handle, flour in the bin 5 will be agitated and caused to pass through the sieve to be caught in a receptacle placed below the box. The box is provided at its bottom with a closure l4 hinged so that it may be swung downwardly to one side when flour is to be discharged and normally held in raised position by a latch l5 so that dust cannot rise into the bin nor can animals or insects find entrance to the bin. Brackets iii are secured to the bottom plate of the'frame and depend therefrom in position to support a pan, indicated at H, in position to receive'the screenedflour, From what has been said, it will be understood that the bin 5 serves as a storage compartment for flour and the bin 6 may be utilized as a mixing chamber when dough is to be formed so that the housewife or other operator will not be required to move to distantparts in order to complete the operation of making dough.

The table top comprises two leaves It and i 9 which may be disposed in the same plane as shown in Figure 2 or one upon the other, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. A relatively narrow hinge bar 20 is interposed between the meeting edges of the leaves l8 and I9 so that when the top is adjusted as shown in Figure 4, the board or leaf l8 may be readily swung down behind the table, as indicated by the dotted lines. The boards or leaves l8 and [9 are of such dimensions that if their shorter dimensions. be disposed across the table frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, they will cover the frame and the leaf l8 may be disposed over the leaf l9. If it be desired to accommodate around the table, at a meal, more persons than can be comfoitably accommodated with the leaves in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the top may be turned through one-fourth of a complete revolution in a plane parallel with the top of the frame so that the longer dimensions of the leaves will be disposed across the table frame and the leaves may then be swung into a common plane, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, with their edge portions projecting beyond the ends of the frame, as shown in Figure 3. The hinge bar 20 YES is connected to the leaf 19 by hinges, as indicated at 2!, which are set in flush with the leaf and the bar and will permit the bar to swing relatively downward when the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 4, and the leaf I8 is connected with the bar 20 by hinges, indicated at 22, which will permit the leaf to be swung into the same plane with the bar or folded upon it, as will be understood upon reference to the full and dotted lines in Figure 3. The leaf !9 has a swivel plate 23 secured to its underside in a recess provided therefor, as shown clearly in Figure 5, and a smaller recess or socket 24 is provided in the leaf in the top wall of the recess receiving the swivel plate. The swivel plate is pref erably secured to the leaf by screws, as shown at 25, and is provided with a central opening which receives a stud 26 on the upper side of a slide 21. A washer or ring 28 is fitted over the upper end of the stud above the swivel plate 23 and the end of the stud is then upset so that, while there may be relative pivotal movement between the slide and the leaf, the parts cannot become separated. The slide is illustrated as consisting of two plates secured together by screws but it may consist of a single plate, as will be understood, the construction shown in Figure being merely a convenient manner of assembling the parts. The slide is provided in its side edges with grooves or recesses, indicated at 29, to slidably engage a track 30 which is provided on the inner side walls 1 and extends from end to end of the same. The tracks are preferably integral with a metal plates M which are secured on the upper edges of the inner walls I and the side rails and each has its inner portion extended downwardly a short distance to rest upon the inner surface of the adjacent inner wall, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. The track 30 is formed by doubling a portion of the plate upon itself so as to produce the inwardly extending flange or track rail 30 and a depending flange 32 which acts as a brace to resist buckling of the track. The track is secured in place upon the walls I and the rails I before the end rails of the frame and the end walls are placed in position and the slide is then brought into engagement endwise with the track, after which the end walls and rails are assembled in the frame, metal plates 33 being secured upon the upper edges of the walls 4 and the adjacent rails, as clearly shown in Figure 6. The table top is provided in its underside with sockets or recesses 34 suitably located to be engaged by yieldably mounted detents 35 fitted in the plates 3| and 33. The detents and sockets are so arranged that in whatevery position the table top may be set there will always be two or more detents engaging in sockets in the table top so that the top will be held in set position.

At the free end of the leaf [8 brackets or bearing plates 36 are secured to its side edges and these brackets or bearing plates are connected by a hood or metal plate 31 which extends between the brackets and may be formed integral therewith. Disposed concentrically with the inner side of the hood is a spring roller 38 which carries a tablecloth 39 of sufficient length to extend entirely over the expanded table top, as shown in Figure 2, when the top is set to accommodate guests to its full capacity. When the cloth is not to be used, it will be held in retracted position by the action of the spring roller and will be housed within the hood 3?. The spring roller 38 is of well-known construction and operation, having a non-circular trunnion l!) at one end engaged in the adjacent bracket 36 and at the opposite end having a circular trunnion or pin 4! engaged in an opening provided therefor in the adjacent bracket. This circular trunnion 4|, however, is not secured rigidly to the end of the roller but fits within a box 42 provided in the roller and housing a spring 43 which tends constantly to project the pin. The pin is provided with a head or enlargement 44 adapted to engage the end cap 55 on the roller so that it can not be projected from the roller but it may be pressed inwardly to be released from the bracket 36 when it is desired to remove the roller and the tablecloth so as to substitute a clean cloth for a soiled one. The cloth may be secured to the roller by any approved means which will hold the cloth firmly but will permit it to be readily removed when desired.

An opening 41 is formed in the front rail l of the table frame and at one end of this opening is pivotally secured a drawer 48 to receive culinary implements, the drawer being provided with a handle or knob 49 at its free end whereby it may be easily opened or closed. A rolling pin 59 is slidably fitted through an opening provided therefor in the front rail l and is housed between the inner wall 4 and the adjacent end rail I so that it will be accessible whenever it is desired for use, but will be so disposed that it will not interfere with the use of either the bin or the mixing chamber when it is not in use. This rolling pin may be used for any purpose for which a rolling pin is ordinarily used.

Ordinarily, the leaves 18 and I9 will be disposed, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the leaf l8 resting on the leaf l9 and the longer dimensions of the leaves extending longitudinally of the table frame so that the bins 5 and 6 will be covered and the leaf I 8 will be available to support dishes or other articles. Both faces of the leaf 18 will be planed, but it will not be necessary to plane the under face or side of the leaf l9. Should access to the bin or the mixing chamber be desired, the leaves are swung about their pivotal connection with the slide 21 so that their longer dimensions will be disposed across the table frame, as shown in Figure 2, the leaf I8, however, being above the leaf l9 and the table cloth being retracted. The folded leaves or table top may then be moved toward either end of the table frame so as to expose either the flour bin 5 or the mixing chamber 6, as will be understood. Access to the flour bin will seldom be desired, except for replenishing the supply of flour therein, but access to the mixing chamber 6 will be required whenever dough is to be mixed so that when dough is to be mixed, the folded leaves will be moved to extend over the flour bin. After the dough has been mixed, it may be taken from the mixing chamber and placed upon the upper surface of the leaf I9 and kneaded or otherwise manipulated thereon, the leaf l8 being swung down at the end of the table. When a larger working surface is desired, as when rolling dough to form pie crust or spaghetti, the top is slid over the bin 6 and the leaves disposed in unfolded or alined relation. With the parts arranged as shown in Figure l, the leaves extending longitudinally of the table frame and being folded, any desired use may be made of the table top, the cloth being protected by the hood 31, as will be understood. If a number of guests are to be accommodated around the table, the table top is swung upon its pivot to the position shown 75 in Figure 2 and the slide is then moved to the position shown in Figure 3 so that, if the leaf it be swung from over the leaf I9, the extended table top will be supported by the table frame and the tablecloth may be drawn over the top.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very compact table which may be easily adjusted to accommodate one or more diners, or arranged to serve various purposes.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A table comprising a supporting frame including side rails and inner walls adjacent the side rails, metal plates secured on the upper edges of said rails and walls and having their inner portions bearing upon the inner surfaces of the walls at the tops thereof and equipped with inwardly projecting tracks, a slide having grooves in its edges engaging said tracks, and a table top pivotally mounted on the slide.

2. A table comprising a supporting frame, a top slidably and pivotally mounted on the frame and including leaves adapted to lie one upon the other or be extended in the same plane, and a hinge bar disposed between the meeting edges of the leaves and hingedly connected thereto.

3. A table comprising a frame of greater length than width and having opposed side rails, tracks extending longitudinally of the side rails, a slide extending between the side rails and slidably engaged with the tracks for movement longitudinally thereof, a top member resting upon the slide for shifting movement therewith and pivotally connected with the slide for turning in a horizontal plane from a position transversely of the table to a position longitudinally thereof, a bar hingedly mounted at one side to a side edge portion of the said top member, and a second topmember hinged at one edge to an edge portion of said bar for movement from a position resting upon the first top member to a position at a side thereof and also movable with the bar to a depending position at one side of the frame.

l. A table comprising a frame of greater length than width and having side rails, a slide extending transversely of the frame between the side rails and slidable longitudinally thereof from a position substantially midway the length of the frame to a position adjacent one end thereof, a top member of dimensions to cover the frame when disposed longitudinally thereof resting upon the slide and pivoted thereto at its center for turning in a horizontal plane to a position transversely of the frame, the said top member when turned to a position transversely of the frame with the slide shifted to a position adjacent an end of the frame covering substantially one-half the frame, a bar hingedly mounted along a side edge of the top member and disposed at the inner edge thereof when the top member is turned to extend transversely of the frame, and a second top member pivoted at one side to a side of the bar for swinging vertically from a folded position upon the first top member to an extended position upon the portion of the frame uncovered when the first top member is turned to a position transversely of the frame, the second top member and bar being also movable to a depending position at a side of the frame when the first top member is disposed longitudinally of the frame.

5. A table comprising a frame of greater length than width and having opposed side rails, a slide extending between the side rails and slidable longitudinally thereof, and a top consisting of upper and lower leaves and a bar between the leaves having marginal portions pivoted to the leaves and mounting the top leaf for movement from a folded position upon the lower leaf to an extended position, the bar and upper leaf being also movable from a horizontal position to a position depending from the lower leaf at one side of the frame, and a swiveled connection between the lower leaf and slide whereby the leaves may be turned from a position longitudinally of the frame in covering relation thereto with the upper leaf resting upon the lower leaf and bar and a portion of the frame exposed to a position transversely thereof and the upper leaf swung to an extended position to rest upon the frame and complete covering thereof.

6. A table comprising a frame of greater length than width, and a top having upper and lower leaves and the bar between the leaves hinged to the lower leaf and pivotally connected with the upper leaf to mount the upper leaf for swinging movement from a folded position upon the lower leaf to an extended position at a side thereof, the upper leaf and bar being movable to a position depending from the lower leaf at a side of the frame, the lower leaf being slidable longitudinally of the frame and adapted to be turned in a horizontal plane from a position longitudinally of the frame in covering relation thereto to a position transversely of the frame in partial covering relation thereto whereby the upper leaf may be moved to an extended position and complete covering of the frame.

7. A table comprising a frame, and a top having a lower leaf slidably and turnably mounted on the frame, a bar being hinged at one side to a side edge of the lower leaf, and an upper leaf pivoted at one edge tothe other side edge portion of the bar for swinging vertically fro-m a folded position upon the bar and the lower leaf to an extended position.

8. A table comprising a frame including side rails and inner walls adjacent the side rails, plates secured to the upper edges of the rails and walls for bridging space between the rails and walls and having their inner portions extended downwardly and bearing against inner surfaces of the walls and provided with tracks extending longitudinally of the walls, a slide between the walls having opposed side edge portions engaging the tracks to slidably mount the slide, and a table top pivotally connected with the slide and having portions extending across the walls and side rails.

PIETRO ANTONIO ROSSI. 

